Jacksonville father joins son's classmates for vigil to mourn his death

Wolfson High School students gather for a vigil at the flag pole before school started Tuesday to mourn the loss of Jordan Davis. They were joined by Davis' father. The 17-year-old was shot and killed Friday outside a Southside Gate gas station.

Jordan Davis and three friends had been at a shopping mall when they stopped at Gate.

Wolfson High’s senior class president made an emotional plea at a Tuesday vigil for classmate Jordan Russell Davis, fatally shot Friday as he sat in a friend’s sport-utility vehicle outside a Gate gas station.

In a strong voice in the chilly dawn, Tyrah Walker had some heartfelt words for about 100 classmates at the vigil as she stood near Jordan’s father, Ron Davis.

“Love your neighbor. They might not be here the next day,” she said.

Davis said Tuesday’s vigil was a “great expression of love.” But he had harsh words for Michael David Dunn, the 45-year-old Satellite Beach resident who was booked Tuesday into Duval County Jail on murder and attempted murder charges.

Davis said Dunn was a “coward” for shooting at unarmed teens.

“You know they are 17; you can see it in their faces,” Davis said. “… Black Friday now has a different meaning for me because it will really be a Black Friday massacre for me.”

Police said Dunn, a gun collector, stopped at the Gate at 8251 Southside Blvd. with his girlfriend after his son’s wedding. He parked next to Jordan and three friends in the SUV who had just returned from a shopping mall.

Dunn traded words with Davis because of loud music in the SUV before eight or nine shots were fired and the couple drove off, police said.

At Wolfson, Principal David Garner said there is “shock and a feeling of loss” over Davis’ death. Students put up “Rest in Paradise” banners in a hallway filled with handwritten messages. And grief counselors are on hand because his death comes three months after classmate Janay Jackson died when a minivan crashed through her bedroom wall.

“There are all little steps of dealing with it and many of them are going to go to the viewing, and many will go to the funeral Saturday in Georgia,” Garner said. “… We have teachers looking out for the students who might say ‘I need some help’ or need someone to talk to.”

Teacher Carolyn Aponte called Davis a very bright student, sometimes ill at ease at how smart he was in her 10th grade intensive reading class. She said he blossomed when moved to an 11th grade-level class and showed his affection for her afterward.

“He approached and gave me the deepest, most beautiful hug ever and I was, ‘My gosh, here was a kid I thought hated me,’ ” Aponte said. “… He was going to graduate this year and then his life was snuffed out senselessly.”

Davis would intelligently “speak from the heart” as he got into discussions with music appreciation teacher Cristina Ledford. Now he’s dead because he was listening to music “at a level, or a type of music that somebody else didn’t necessarily appreciate,” she said.

“I could hear him possibly challenging what this man was saying to him at the gas station about the music,” Ledford said. “Knowing Jordan, he might have said something like ‘What’s wrong with my music?’ ”

My heart and prayers go out to Jordan's family... I cannot imagine losing a child period, but especially in such a senseless act of violence. Dunn pulled up at that gas station probably already upset at something and took it out on those innocent kids.

Water"weapon"
Apparently sarcasm is not your forte'.
I was merely pointing out the stereotype of "gangsta rap" music being played by these children that angered this fellow.
Even though it was never stated ( or even matters) what genre of music it was, you seemed to know.
And (if it mattered) I would bet you were right. Funny how that is.